Winnipeg Votes 2026, Terri MacLeod, Pembina Trails School Division, Ward 1

What do families want most from their schools?

In this episode of Winnipeg Votes 2026, host Graham McDonald speaks with Terri MacLeod, candidate for trustee in Pembina Trails School Division, Ward 1.

With 33 years of teaching experience in Manitoba, Newfoundland, and Finland, MacLeod discusses early literacy, dyslexia support, classroom staffing, educational assistants, clinician shortages, neighbourhood schools, French immersion, substitute teacher recruitment, arts education, and creating learning environments where students can thrive.

She explains why smaller class sizes and additional supports remain top concerns for families, shares lessons from Finland's education system, and outlines her vision for helping students succeed both academically and personally.

If education is one of the issues shaping your vote in the 2026 municipal election, this conversation offers valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing local schools.

00:00 "The Community Wants the Same Things": Smaller Classes & More Support
01:21 Why a Retired Teacher with 33 Years of Experience Is Running for Trustee
01:41 The Literacy Crisis: What Happens After Students Are Identified
03:15 What Finland Gets Right About Education
04:13 Sewing, Woodworking & Life Skills: Lessons from Finnish Schools
06:04 Why Children Should Learn to Speak a Language Before Reading It
09:06 Early Literacy, Dyslexia & The Support Students Need
11:30 The Hidden Shortage of Clinicians, Psychologists & Speech Pathologists
13:03 Why Schools Struggle to Find Substitute Teachers
15:03 Arts, Music & Drama: More Than Just Extracurricular Activities

Disclaimer: As part of U Multicultural’s 2026 Winnipeg Municipal Election Coverage, candidates were invited to share messages with our audience. The views expressed in this article are the candidate’s own, and this article does not constitute an endorsement by U Multicultural.